Power-operated wire-working tool.



A. W. MARTIN.

POWER OPERATED WIRE WORKING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1.3. 1917.

PatentedJune 4, 1918.

9 may;

ALBERT W. MARTIN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO WIRE GOODS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

POWER-OPERATED WIRE-WORKING- TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jung 4, 1913,

Application filed August 13, 1917. Serial No. 185,831.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. MARTIN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Power-Operated Wire-Working Tool, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tool for Wire working, and particularly for bending a wire around a rod or wire to connect it thereto. In making wire goods the wires are provided with U-shaped loops at their ends usually and placed upon a cross rod or wire and then bent around the same by pliers or the like in order to attach the two wires or wire and rod together. This is an operation that necessitates the employment of, men with considerable strength in their hands on account of the often repeated pressing operations that are required.

The principal object of this invention is to prov de a convenient tool which can be handled by a person with less strength and skill to conveniently apply power through such a tool for the performance of this" operation. Theinvention also involves several features and details of construction as will appear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tool con- Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the same; Fig. 3 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1;

structed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 4 is a central sectional view on the line 44.- of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the tool showing it in the operation of bending a wire, as has been described above.

In the form shown the tool comprises a a main body portion formed of two sheet metal members anda wooden handle 11. These sheet metal members are attached to opposite sides of the handle by being constructed to fit its surfaces and rivetlng them through it so that they form a part of the handle and serve to unite it with the body which supports the rest of the mechanism.

piston 27, the rod 28 of which is It is to be observed that these members extend forwardly from the handle in alinement with its sides. They are spaced apart by the handle so that the tool is of substantially the same width and height throughout its length except for the central portion at 12 where the metal members are bent outwardly to form a casing for another part of the mechanism. They are also extended downwardly for the same purpose.

It may be stated that in addition to the spacing of these members apart by the handle at one end they are also spaced apart and fixed with respect to each other by a jaw member 13 at the extreme front end which is riveted to these side members so as to secure it in fixed position. The central portions 12 are further held together by a pair of blocks 14 preferably made of brass and integrally connected together by a cylinder 15 constituting part of the same casting. This casting is provided with a hollow projection 16 for receiving the end of a compressed air tube 17 or the like for the application of power from an external source. The air is allowed to come into the cylinder by a valve 20 which has a passage 21 for that purpose and an exhaust passage 22. This valve is operated by a lever 23 mounted on the body and having a trip finger 24: at one end located near the handle for operating it. A spring 25 normally holds it in the position shown in Fig. 4 where the passage is closed and the exhaust passage 22 is connected with the interior of the cylinder.

In the cylinder there is a single acting pivotally connected with a lever 29. This lever is pivoted at to the front end of the body and is provided with a jaw 31. Each of the jaws 13 and 31 is shown as having a transverse forming or shaping groove 32 on its operative face which is otherwise flat. These grooves receive the wire and their edges bend it to the proper curved shape. When the piston is pressed outwardly by the introduction of the compressed air as shown in Fig. 5 the jaw 31 is moved toward the jaw 13 for the purpose of bending a wire operation of controlling the action of the device is very simple and easily learned.

Although relatively great pressure is needed A, as shown in that figure, around a rod B. The air is admitted to the cylinder by pressing on the trip finger 2e and the operation is stopped by releasing thisfinger and allowing the spring 25 to move the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4L which exhausts the air from the cylinder. The piston being single acting is brought back to the position shown in Fig. 4; by the action of a spring 33. The action of the spring 25 is limited by a stop rod 34; which is engaged bya pin 35 on the trip finger.

From this it will be seen that a hand tool of a compact form easily operated and having its jaws in alinenient with, the handle so as to facilitate its use by inexperienced operators is provided. Furthermore, the

in this industry that is conveniently applied by the use of c ompressed air without any necessity of the operator exerting any special pressure.

By slowly and carefully operating the trip finger 24 the air can be admitted into the cylinder slowly enough to provide a gradual pressure on the jaws, or it can be r operated suddenly enough to impart a blow a tool. The jaws of course are formed so as to accomplish the desired result. They constitute not mere bending jaws usually but also shaping or forming dies for they control the shape of the resulting work. as is shown for example in Fig. 5. Thus this power operated hand tool by itself does work that has had to be done heretofore only by utilizing the skill of the workman.

Although I have illustrated and described a form of the invention especially adapted for using compressed air, I am aware of the a fact that other sources of external power can be employed. Therefore I do notwish toliniit myself to compressed air or tolthe details of construction except as expressed in the claims.

What I do claim is a 1. Ina wire working tool, the combina tion of a body having a handle projecting therefrom and provided with a jaw having a trai'isverserecess, a lever pivoted on'said body andhaving a jaw also provided with a named jaw,

transverse recess and adapted to register with the first named recess when the lever is turned to bring the jaws together, and a power cylinder fixedly mounted on said body adapted to be connected with an external source of power for operating said lever. a L

2. In awire working tool, the combination of a body provided with a jaw, a lever pivot-ally mounted on said body and having a jaw adapted to cooperate with the first a cylinder located onsaidib'ody transversely t'othe length of the body, a pistonin the cylinder having a rod directly pivoted to said lever for connecting the lever with said pistonflioroperating theflever, and a trip finger on saidbodyiforcontrolling the admission of fluid pressure to said cylinder.

3. In a wire working'toohthe combination of a body provided with a jaw, adever pivotally mounted on said body and having a jaw adapted to cooperate with the first named jaw for bending the wire, acylinder on said body, a connection therefrom to an external source of power, a trip finger on said body for controlling said connection, and a piston in said cylinder having a'rod pivoted to said lever.

a. In a wire working tool, the combinationof a body provided with aj aw, a lever pivotally mounted on said body and having a jaw adapted to cooperate with the first named jaw for bending the wire, a cylinder on said body, a connection therefrom to a source of operating fluid, a isingleacting piston in said cylinder having a rod pivoted to said lever, and a spring connected with said lever for forcing the piston back into the cylinder after it has operated.

5. In a wire working tool, thecombination of a pair of jaws adapted to cooperate for bending a wire, means for connecting one of said jaws with an external source of power for operating it, a slide valve for controlling said means, a trip finger, a lever on which said trip finger is located for operating said slide valve, and a spring for holding the lever in a position to close the valve. a

6. In a wire working tool, the combination of a body providedwith a jaw, a lever pivotally mounted on said body and having a jaw'adapted to cooperate withthe first named jaw for bending the wire, means on said body for connecting said lever with an external sourcev of power for operating the lever, a slide valve for controlling said means, a trip finger on said body, a lever on which said trip fingeris located for operating said slide valve, and a spring for holding the lever in a position to close the valve.

7. In 'a' wire working tool, the combination of a body comprising two sheet metal transversely between the handle and jaws members, a handle extending between them and also between said members for operatand projecting from them, said members ing the jaws by external power. 1 being fixed to said handle and being spaced In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- 5 apart thereby, a pair of jaws located between fixed my signature.

said members at the end opposite the handle and in alinement with it, and means located ALBERT W. MARTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

